A Libyan rebel fighter holds a knife as he waves the revolution flag in a street of Benghazi on March 19, 2011, as the exodus of civilians began shortly after the first air strikes hit Benghazi. (Getty Images)

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How did Libya, a desert nation of 6.5 million people and less than 2% of the world's oil reserves, become a French and British war? Michael Elliot in Time checks off a bunch of wrong answers first: No, the outcome in Libya is not a vital national interest of France or Britain, nor would a possible refugee crisis affect either country very much. Libya's terrorist-linked history is too far in the past to be relevant, and military intervention too risky to help their nations' international standing. So why did Nicolas Sarkozy and David Cameron go to war?

The key reason is that "inaction is a decision, a policy with consequences," writes Elliot, quoting former British PM Tony Blair. Because Britain, France, and many other nations spoke out against Gadhafi when the uprising turned violent, it moved them to act. "To have done nothing now, when it seemed as if Gadhafi was going to win Libya's civil war, would have been a decision in and of itself, and one, moreover, that would have exposed the weakness of those who had so recently called for him to go."

Ok, first of all France and the UK are everything but weak (that's just your american nationalism speaking) At least they are helping a country get free from a ruthless leader, The US won't do anything unless they get something out of it. I applaud France (Yes, I'm from France) and the UK (even though they got sucked into American BS in Middle East.)

Mersault

Mar 20, 2011 10:21 AM CDT

And this is a rational reason? Not to appear weak? News to France and the UK: you're still weak! Your glory days are long past. By the way, the British tool-author of the TIME article is a friend of Bill & Hillary Clinton (who pushed for this war in the US) and a giant kiss-ass (i.e. regular) on the Davos circuit who schmoozes with all the pompous Euro politicians and new world order billionaires and could never write an article without fawning over his Pay Masters.

nomad52

Mar 20, 2011 9:25 AM CDT

Let`s see,112 missiles at $3 million each= $336 million to a defense contractor,just to start.War is about money and giving the money to the defense contractors! Also,just another distraction for the America people from the pressing issue`s in this country:national debt,unemployment,homelessness,and poverty,for example. Just remember it`s the corporations and banks that run this country and the government answers to them not the American people!